Rotary engine.



No. 865.891. PATENTED SEPT. l0, 1907..

R. H. da W. L. HEBERLING.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED 0012.25, 1906.

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No. 865,891. `PATENTE) SEPT. 1o, 1907. R. H.& W. L. HEBERLING,

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLioATIoN PILBp ooT.25. 190e.

1 lul K No. 865,891. Y PATBNTED SEPT. 1o, 1907.

R. H. an' w. L. HBBERLING.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLIoATIoN FILED oo'lfmgz.v 19o6.-

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UNITED STATES Pn'rENT OFFICE.

aA'LPH H. HEBERLINQAND WILLIAM HEBERLING, oF HAVANA, ILLINOIS;

. Specification of Letters Patent.

' ROTARY ENG-INE.

Patented Sept. 10, 1907.

Application filed OctoberAZ, 1906. SerislNo. 340,528.

, and useful Improvementsin Rotary Engines, of which the following is aspecication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.- y

This invention relates to rotary engines, and more 'particularly to that type known as disk engines, and

the inventionl has for its object to provide an engine of this class which, while comparatively simple in construction, .will be efficient in operation, and'in' which convenient facilities will lbe afforded for properly packing the rotary parts of the engine, which haverelative movements to each other or to the stationary parts, so that tight joints'wilh be aorded to properly confine the pressure medium and direct the same through the engine.

, While the invention in its preferred for .use as an internal-combustion or explosion engine of the two-cycle class, it will be understood that, with slight modifications ofthe valves and some other parts,

the invention 4may be utilized in a four-cycle internalcombustion engine, as also in a steam engine, and the improved engine may' also be adapted for use as a pump orair compressor.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section, in a vertical plane, `of an engine. embodying the invention. vFig 2 is an end .view oi the rotary disk and the parts integral therewith, and Fig. 3 is a side view of the' same. Fig. 4 is a partial section through the hub of the rotary disk on line 4`4, Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the hub of the rotary disk and parts integral therewith on line 5 5, Fig, 4. Fig. 6.is a detail section of the hub of the rotary disk on line-G, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section of the hub of the rotary disk o n line 7 7, `Fig. 4. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are detail views of a "stationary sleeve whichv serves as a valve seat and exhaust passage. Fig. 11 is a detail view of the revolving cylinder showing'the rotary disk in the same and one of the division plates which form the chambers in the'cylinder. -v Fig. 12 is a partial sectional 'view of the revolving disk showing the shoe holders and shoes and their relations to one of the division plates. Fig.

. 13 is a partial elevation of the same. Fig. 11 is a detail view'of one of the slotted'blocks inserted in the revolving disk and serving as a holder for springs bearing against .the ends of the packing segments. Fig. 15 is a transverse section of the engine on line.15-15,

Fig. l. Figs. 16 and 17 are detail views of the normally stationary valve-seat ring. Figs. 18and 19 are detail views oftherotary valve ring or sleeve. Fig. 20 isa detail view of the throttle` valve.` Fig. 21 is a section through the rotating cylinder on line 21-21,

form is intended `i y Fig. l, and Fig. 22 is a section of.the rotating cylinder` and disk taken at right angles to the section of Fig. l.

plate `of the machine `frame provided with upwardly projecting flanges 13 between which are received the ltuting the framework .of the engine. .To'urnaled in the standard 14 is a sleeve 16 formed integral' with the rotating cylinder- 17 and to which sleeve is suitably :splined or xed a shaft 18 from which the power of the engine is taken, o'r which, if theengine is to be used asfa pump or air compressor, serve as the driving shaft therefor. The engine herein illustrated being intended. for use as an internal combustion or explosion engine, the rotary cylinder 17 is shown as being provided with cooling ribs 19.

Inclosed within the rotary cylinder 17 is a rotary disk-"2ehaving a spherical hub -portion 21 fitted to suitable. .bearings within the said cylinder; and eX- 4tending from said hub portion 21 isa sleeve 22 having a suitable bearing in the standard 15. The rotary sleeves 16 and 22 are preferably mounted on ball bear ings 23 in the standards 14 and l5.

The bearing sleeve 22 is disposed at an angle to the sleeve 16 so that the axis of rotation of the disk 20 is inclined relative to the axis of rotation of cylinder 17 .andthus there will be a relative lateral or side movement of the said disk in the chamber of said cylinder, as the latter and the said disk rotate together. In other words, while the said cylinder and disk always maintain their general relative positions, as shown in Fig. 1, the rotation of the cylinder will cause its interior peripheral wallto rub back and forth on the periphery of the disk. v

Within the cylinder 17, and extending through the rotary disk 20, are, in the style of engine herein illus- ,trated, two radially disposed division plates 24 fixed to said cylinder and located diametrically opposite each other, and which division plates,.together with said disk, form four chambers within said cylinder. The' radially-disposed division plates 24, which are notched into or otherwise suitably fined to said cylinder 17, so as to rotate therewith, pass through' transverse slots or openings in said rotary .disk 20,"thus connecting said cylinder and disk rotatively, so that said cylinder and disk must rotate together. (See Fig. 11.) To provide for a 'tight joint between the rotary disk and the interior wall of the rotary cylinder the said disk is provided at itsperiphery with annular grooves 25 in which are seated packing segments 26 of any-proper material, preferably some suitable metal. These packing seg- 'ments are preferably forced outward against the interior wall ofthe rotary cylinder by spiral springs 27 inserted in suitable pockets in the rotary disk vand pressing against said segments.

fr0 form"- tight joints between the 'rotary disk 2o. and

Referring to the drawings, l2 denotes the basebases of the standards 14 and 15, these parts constiloo the division plates 24 suitable shoes 28 are confined in shoe-holders 29 bolted to overlapping flange portions 30 ol' the rotary disk; the said shoes being provided with packing bars or strips 3l which are in vcontact 'with the division plates 24. The shoes 28 are preferably tapered outward so that they may be held to their seats in the holders 29 by centrifugal force whichwill preferably be' assisted by springs 71, and thus the packing strips 3l carried by said shoes will be held in yielding contact with the division plates 24. To positively limit the outward movement of the said shoes they are provided with shoulders 72 which engage similar shoulders formed in the holders 29.

The packing segments 26 are held in endwise contact with the packing shoes 28 by springs 32 inserted in grooves 33 in blocks 34 which are seated in the peripheral portion of the rotary disk, and which springs are interposed between the ends of the packing segments 27 extending into the said grooves in said blocks. Beneath the said blocks are preferably located springs 35 `which also have a' tendency to force the packing segments outward against the interior wall of the chamber of the cylinder.

ln the present embodiment of the invention, intended as a two-cycle combustion engine, the standard 14 is provided near its base with an opening 36, for the admission of air, and with a needle-valve 38 for the admission of a suitable fluid fuel. .lournaled in the said standard 14 is a throttle-valve 39 provided with a handle 40 by which it may be turned, the opening in said valve communicating with a chamber 4l between the flanges 42 of a normally stationary valve-seat ring 43,

one or the other of the positions which said valve seat ring may assume, with a stop-screw 52.l When the enf gine `is running forward, or in the direction denoted by arrow a in Fig. l5, the lug 50 will be in contact with the said stop pin to restrain the normally stationary valveseat ring from rotating with the rotary valve-ring and the sleeve of the rotary cylinder 17; but when the engine is reversed the position of the normally stationary valve seat ring will be changed, by frictional contactV with the rotary valve-ring, so that the stop-lug 51will come in contact with the said stop-pin 52 for proper* adjustment of the'valves in the reverse direction of rotation of the engine.

Surrounding the normally stationary valve-seat ring 43 is a manually adjustable spark-timing ring 53 provided with a handle 54 by which it may be turned to vary the timing of the sparking; but 'as this feature does not constitute a partof the present in vention and is not herein claimed it need not be herein further described.

The chambers of the rotary .cylinder communicate through passageways 55 with an exhaust passage afforded by the sleeve 56 held stationary relative to the frame portion of the casing 15, and provided with an exit opening 57. To provide for holding the said sleeve` 56 stationary and still to allow of a proper longitudinal adjustment thereof, Ifor the purpose of suitably'fitting or seating the enlarged and tapered end of said sleeve in the spherical h11b21, screw bolts -58 the inner flatsaid sleeve are provided. Said bolts pass loosely through suitable openings in the outer end portion 59 of the casing 15; and disposed in suitable recesses 60 in the said outer end part 59 are adjusting nuts 61 which may be turned to effect an endwise adjustment of the. said sleeve; the said bolts, of course, restraining the said sleeve from rotation. provided with openings or ports 77 communicating, at times, in the rotation ofthe parts, with openings or ports 78 in the tapered part of said stationary sleeve 56; these partsiconstituting an exhaust valve, and a close running fit betweensaid rotating and stationary parts is effected by the adjustment afforded by the nuts 61 and the walls of the recesses in which said nuts are located. i

As the rotating hub 21 isl tened portions or shanks of which are riveted to the The interior peripheral wall of the rotary cylinder 17 is recessed to afford pockets 73 which are somewhat wider than the thickness of the rotary disk 20, and the latter is preferably recessed or chamfered off at its periph`ery at 74 t0 a circumferential extent approximately equal to the circumferential extent of the pockets 73; the latter being divided by ribs 75 which afford bearings for the packing segments carried by said disk. The pockets 73 are formed in those portions of the rotary cylinder 17 which afford the primary compression chambers .within said cylinder, and thus provide a communication between said primary compression chambers and the adjacently-located explosion chambers,

so asto afford, at times, communication between said compression and explosion chambers. In the operation of the engine and just before Comunication is established between the said compression and explosion chambers by virtue of the pockets 73 and the chamfered off or recessed portion 74 on the rotary disk, communication is established between the explosion chambers and the exhaust passage; and as the parts come into such position as to establish communication. be-

tween the compression and explosion chambers,

through`the medium o f thepockets 73, the gas `in the primary compression chambers will rush intov the explosion chambersand thus force out the burned gases ,from the latter into the exhaust passage, and in the continued revolution of the engine the gas now in the explosion chambers will next'be properlycompressed before being exploded.

The two explosion chambers 'within the cylinder 17 and in both of which the charges are simultaneously exploded, communicate with each other through the exhaust passages 55, so that should the charge in one chamber fail to be ignited it will receive ignition froml the other chamber .through the 'exhaust passages. Also the primary compression chambers-are connected with each other, so as to receive balanced charges, through the supply passages 48 in the Aspherical hub portionfof the rotary disk.

' chamber 66 with which longitudinal oil passages 67 in' the said hub come into register as the said hub rotates;

the standard 15 is' provided with yo'penings62 and the end plate 37 of the said standard is also provided with openings y63, the said openings communicating with an annular chamber 64 between the stationary exhaust sleeve 56 and the rotary sleeve 22, the said annular chamber thus somewhat separating the exhaust sleeve 56, which becomes heated from ,the products of combustion passing through the same, from the surrounding sleeve 22.

To provide 'forproper lubrication of the interior Wall ofthe rotary cylinder 17 and against which the periphery of the rotary disk rubs as it changes its position 'relative to the said cylinder as the parts rotate together, as' also to provide for a proper lubrication of the external and internal bea of the spherical hub 21 of the said rotating disk, oil is ntroduced through a duct 65 into a said oil passages. 67 communicating by ducts 68 with the periphery of' thel rotary disk, and also by ducts 69 i with the internal bearing of the said spherical hub on the enlarged tapered portion of the exhaust sleeve 56.

Gil is forced (iutward centrifugally through the duct 68. The exterior b earing of the hub 21 of the rotary disk in the rotary cylinder is made tight Iby suitable packing rings orsegments 70.

In the operation of the engine herein illustrated, acting as a two-cycle internal-combustion engine, the exl plosive mixture of air and gas enters the chambers ofv the rotating cylinder through the passageways herein described,` and being ignited at proper intervals by a suitable sparking apparatus, not forming a part of the present invention, power is developed within said cylinder by side pressure onthe rotary disk and pressure in the direction-of-rotation, of said disk on' the division plates 24 hereinbefore referred to; said division plates dividing each 'oi the two" chambers shown in Fig. 1 formed lbythe rotary disk into two other chambers, so that-thereI will be corresponding and opposing compression chambers and explosion chambers. The rotary -dsk and rotary cylinderare so connected that they` mustr rotate together, and the powerthus developed is communicated from the rotary cylinderthrough the sleeve .16 to the lshaft 18 from whence t he power is that ignition Aof the ,charges in the explosion chambers will take effect at what may be termed the dead points in the rotation ofthe cylinder 17 and the rotary disk 20 connected with said cylinder-through` the division plates 24; such dead points being the positions lin which equal surfaces on said plates are presented or exposed at the opposite ends ofthe explosion chambers formed .by said plates and the rotary disk. The power' ,resulting from the combustion ofthe explosive gaseous mixture and developed, subsequent togignition, is thus exertedv by pressure on a rapidly increasing major surface on' a division plate at the forward end of each explosion chamber, such power or pressure being less and less resisted by a rapidly diminishing minor surface `on a division plate at the rear endoi each explosion chamber as the connected cylinder and rotary disk revolve together, and as the said diskvchanges its lateral position relative lto saidcylinder owing tol the inclination of its'axis relativev to the axis of said cylinder.

The igniting mechanism will .preferably be so timed` Having thus described our invention we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a rotary engine, the combination with a rotary cylinder, ofsa rotary disk within the same, and connected to said cylinder so as to rotate therewith, said rotary disk having extending therefrom arid rigid therewith a shaft forming an axis Vofsaid disk and which yshaft is inclined `relativo tolthe axis of rotation of said cylinder.

2. `Ina rotary engine, the combination witha rotary cylinder, of a rotary disk within the 's 'ame and [connected to said cylinder so, as to rotate therewith, said rotary disk having extending therefrom and rigid therewith `a shaft forming an 'axis of said disk -and which" shaft is*l inclined relative to the axis ot rotation of said cylinder, said cylinder having a second shaft rigid therewith and from which power is'taken.

3. In a rotaryengine, the combination with a rotary cylinder, yof a rotary disk within the same, said rotary disk having extending therefrom and rigid therewith a shaft`forming an axis of said disk and, which shaft is inclined relative to the axis of rotation of said cylinder,

`an'd ,division plates rotatively connecting said cylinder of said cylinder, radially-disposed division-plates rotatably connecting said cylinder and disk, and packing-carrying shoes connected with said` disk and disposed on opposite sides-of said division plates.

6. 4In a rotary engine, the combination with a rotary cylinder, of a rotary disk within the same and having its axis of `rotation inclined relative to the axis of rotation of said cylinder, radially-disposed division-plates rotatably connecting .said cylinder and disk, packing-carrying shoes connected with said disk and disposed on opposite sides of said division plates, saidshoes being outwardlytapered,

and holders, secured tosaid disk, by which saidA shoes are carried.

7. In a rotary engine,.the combination withA a rotary cylinder and a sleeve on hollow shaft rigid therewith and which serves as an inlet passage communicating with the chamber of said cylinder, of a rotary disk within -said cylinder and rotatably, connected therewith, said disk being provided with a sleeve or hollow shaft which is inc lined relative tothe axis of rotation of said cylinder,

and a stationary sleeve Within the said sleeve or hollow shaft of 'said disk and the chamber of 4'which stationary sleeve serves as an exhaust passagecommunicating with the chamber of said cylinder and witlian exhaust outlet.

8.`In a rotary engine, the combination with a rotary cylinder and a sleeve or hollow shaft rigid therewith and which serves as an inlet 'passage communicating with the chamber of said cylinder, of a rotary disk within said cylinder and rotatably connected therewith, said disk being provided with a sleeve or hollow shaft which' is in- 'clined relative to the-axis of rotation of said cylinder, a -stationary sleeve within the said sleeve or hollow shaft of said disk and the chamber of which stationary sleeve serves --as an exhaust passage communicating with the chamber of said cylinder and with an exhaust outlet, and means for admitting air to an annular chamber formed between the sleeve of the said disk and said stationary sleeve, for thepurpose of keeping the parts cool.`

9. In a rotary engine, the combination with a rotary cylinder, of a disk within saidcylinder and rotatively connected therewith,-said disk having its' axis of rotation inclined relative to the `Aaxis of rotation of said cylinder,

packing segments arried`by said disk, and means for forcing the said segments yieldingly outward against the in- -terior peripheralwall of said cylinder.

10. In a rotary engine', the combination with a rotary cylinder, of a rotary disk \arrang`ed' within said cylinder and rotatively connected therewith and having its axis inclined relative to the axis of rotation of said cylinder, and means for centrfugally feeding a lubricant to the periphery of said disk. v

11. In a rotary engine, the combination with a rotary zylinder, of a rotary disk within the same and having its axis of rotation inclined relative to the axis of rotation of said cylinder, said disk having a spherical hub fitting in bearings in said cylinder, of means for feeding a lubricant to the bearings of said hub and to the periphery of said disk.

12. In a rotary engine, the combination with a rotary cylinder,l of a rotary disk located within said cylinder and having its axis of rotation at an angle to the axis of rotation of said cylinder, said disk having a spherical hub portion iitting in bearings in said cylinder and provided with openings or ports to form a valve, and a stationary exhaust sleeve tting said spherical hub and having openings or ports which communicate, at times, withthe openings or ports in the'said hub.

13. In a rotary engine, the combination with a rotary cylinder, of a rotary disk located within said cylinder and having itsaxis of rotation at an angle to the axis of rotation of said cylinder, said disk having a spherical hub portion fitting in bearings in s aid cylinder and provided with openings or ports to form a valve, a stationary exhaust sleeve fitting said spherical hub and having openings or ports which communicate, at times, with the openings or ports in the said hub, and means for adjusting` said sleeve within the said hub to effect a close running fit between the rotary and stationary faces ofsaid parts.

14. In a rotary engine, the combination with a rotating cylinder, of a rotary disk located within said cylinder and having its axis of rotation inclined relative to the axis of rotation of said cylin'der, and radially-disposed division plates dividing the chamber of said cylinder and serving to form, with said disks, two primary compression and two explosion chambers withinsaid cylinder, thelatter being provided at its interior peripheral wall with pockets to afford communication, at times, outside the periphery o'f said disk, between the said primary compression chambers and said explosion chambers.

15. In a.rotary engine, the combination with a rotating cylinder, of a rotary disk located within said cylinder and having its axis of rotation inclined relative to the axis of rotation of said cylinder, radially-disposed division plates dividing the chamber of said cylinder and serving to form, with said disks, two primary compression and two expiosion chambers .within said cylinder, and means for affording communication between said primary compression chambers and said explosion chambers at intervals after explosions have occurred and when said explosion chambers are open to the exhaust.

16. In a rotary engine, the combination with a rotating cylinder, of a rotary disk located within said cylinder and having its axis ofrotation inclined relative to the axis of rotation of'said cylinder, radially-disposed division plates .dividing the chamber of said cylinder and serving to form,

with said disks, two primary compression and two explosion 'chambers within said cylinder, and passageways through which communication is afforded between said explosion chambers, so that the ignition of a charge in one of said chambers will effect the ignition of a chargevin the other.

17. In a rotary engine, the combination with a` rotary cylinder, of a rotary disk within and rotatively connected with said cylinder and having its axis of rotation inclined relative to the axis of rotation of said cylinder, the latter being provided with a sleeve or hollow shaft having openings or ports, of a normally stationary inlet valve-ring encircling said sleeve and provided with openings or ports and with two separated stop-lugs, and a stationary stop pin or projection to engage one or the other of said stoplugs to hold said ring stationary in one or the other. of two positions, for forward or reverse running of the engine.

18. In a rotary engine, the combination with a rotary cylinder, of radially disposed division plates xed to said cylinder and dividing the interior of the same into radial chambers, of a rotating disk within said cylinder and having its axis of rotation inclined relative to the axis of rotation of said cylinder, said division plates extending through said disk so as to rotatively connect the latter with said cylinder.

19. In a rotary engine, the combination with a rotaryA cylinder, of radially-disposed division plates xed to said cylinder and dividing the interior of-the same into radial chambers, of a rotating disk within said cylinder and having its axis of rotation inclined relative to the axis of rotation of said cylinder, said division plates extending through said disk so as to rotatively connect the latter with said cylinder, and packing-carrying shoes disposed on opposite sides of said division plates.

20. In' a rotary engine, the combination with a rotary cylinder, of radially disposed division plates dxed to said cylinder and dividing the interior of the same into radial chambers, of a rotating disk within said cylinder andl having its axis of rotation inclined relative to the axis of rotation of said cylinder, said division plates extending through said disk so as to rotatively connect the latter with said cylinder, packing segments in the peripheral face of said disk, means `for forcing the said segments yieldingly outward against the interior wall of the said cylinder, and means for yieldingly forcing said segments endwise towards said division-plates.

- 21. In a rotary engine, the\combination with a rotary' disk provided at its periphery with grooves, of a grooved block or blocks recessed into the periphery of 'salddisk and provlded'with grooves registering with the grooves in said RALPH vH. HEBERLING. WILLIAM L. HEBERLING.

Witnesses ETHLEEN E.' SHEETS, Louis O. LEHMAN, 

